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Sanctuary
Grief leaves a stain.
Sibilla Fenoglio wants nothing more than to live with her husband in this run-down, derelict watermill. Uninhabited since the Renaissance after a mysterious disaster befell the previous owners, the mill requires extensive repairs. But there is something frightening about the mill. Repairs are violently undone, half-seen figures begin stalking Sibilla through the grounds, and haunting echoes of the previous owners’ lives infiltrate the present. As the disturbances grow more vicious and her husband more secretive, she realizes that she and her child are in danger.
For readers who enjoy The Rose Master by Valentina Cano, The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas, The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb, The House in the Orchard by Elizabeth Brooks, and The Winter Guest by W. C. Ryan.
Sibilla Fenoglio wants nothing more than to live with her husband in this run-down, derelict watermill. Uninhabited since the Renaissance after a mysterious disaster befell the previous owners, the mill requires extensive repairs. But there is something frightening about the mill. Repairs are violently undone, half-seen figures begin stalking Sibilla through the grounds, and haunting echoes of the previous owners’ lives infiltrate the present. As the disturbances grow more vicious and her husband more secretive, she realizes that she and her child are in danger.
For readers who enjoy The Rose Master by Valentina Cano, The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas, The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb, The House in the Orchard by Elizabeth Brooks, and The Winter Guest by W. C. Ryan.
336 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2025
18 people are currently reading
10968 people want to read
About the author
Valentina Cano Repetto
1 book148 followersBorn in Uruguay to Italian and Latino parents and having lived in Miami, FL, for twenty-three years, I have now made my home in a secluded Victorian watermill in Italy that is ripe with history. I'm the author of other books that you can find under the name Valentina Cano.
My debut novel, The Rose Master (2014- REUTS Publications, LLC.) was called “a strong, satisfying effort” by Publishers Weekly and my latest novel, SANCTUARY, will be out on April 16th, 2024.
My debut novel, The Rose Master (2014- REUTS Publications, LLC.) was called “a strong, satisfying effort” by Publishers Weekly and my latest novel, SANCTUARY, will be out on April 16th, 2024.
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December 26, 2023Sanctuary by Valentina Cano Repetto
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978074430...
Release Date: April 16th, 2024
General Genre: Horror-General
Sub-Genre/Themes: Estate/villa, Italy, dual timelines, marriage, pregnancy, sawmill, historical fiction, unreliable narrator, herbalism/witch/Strega, curses, sabotage, maidservants, wealth, classism, socialites, gaslighting
Writing Style: Gothic, multiple POV, character-driven, intricately plotted, compelling
What You Need to Know: My first time requesting and reviewing on Edelweiss. I was provided a digital copy from the publisher, CamCat
I think it’s worth noting that the author lived in Miami, FL for 20+ years and then purchased a secluded Victorian-era mill in Italy and has been residing there, restoring it. You can follow along HERE
My Reading Experience: Since October, I have been in my “Gothic Era”. Meaning, that I’m always in the mood for quiet, haunting, sprawling stories with family secrets, haunted halls, eerie estates, and women in peril.
Sanctuary checks all the boxes.
Dual timelines with two women leads.
Set in the 1930’s Sibilla and her husband, Giovanni are expecting their first child. They move out to an abandoned sawmill with the intention of getting it running again and restoring the villa to its original glory. Sibilla’s husband is quite boorish and misogynistic. This feels like your classic, “Yellow Wallpaper”, “Rebecca” kind of Gothic with a Downton Abbey-style dynamic between Sibilla and her new live-in housekeeper.
“He should have said all of that to Giovanni, because I was no good at remembering those kinds of things. A mind like a sieve, he always told me.”
The other timeline is a look back to the Renaissance, the 1600’s. The sawmill is occupied by Maddalena, a strong, capable woman who is supported by a dutiful, faithful husband who adores her and encourages his wife to be the woman she is–an herbalist (communicates with plants) practices alchemy, cartomancy, and herbalism. The townspeople think she’s a witch, blasphemous against their god…a ‘Strega’.
In both timelines, there are sabotaging acts against the villa and the sawmill in an attempt to chase them off the lands, the only real difference is in how each family handles the chaos and violence.
I enjoyed both narratives and equally looked forward to the events as they were unfolding. I especially loved the contrast between the two women and the way they are treated by their husbands.
Final Recommendation: Fans of Gothic storytelling looking for a unique setting, historical fiction elements, and a bit of mystery will enjoy this book. I especially recommend reading it during the Fall/Winter season for peak Gothic vibes.
Comps: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell, The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase, The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978074430...
Release Date: April 16th, 2024
General Genre: Horror-General
Sub-Genre/Themes: Estate/villa, Italy, dual timelines, marriage, pregnancy, sawmill, historical fiction, unreliable narrator, herbalism/witch/Strega, curses, sabotage, maidservants, wealth, classism, socialites, gaslighting
Writing Style: Gothic, multiple POV, character-driven, intricately plotted, compelling
What You Need to Know: My first time requesting and reviewing on Edelweiss. I was provided a digital copy from the publisher, CamCat
I think it’s worth noting that the author lived in Miami, FL for 20+ years and then purchased a secluded Victorian-era mill in Italy and has been residing there, restoring it. You can follow along HERE
My Reading Experience: Since October, I have been in my “Gothic Era”. Meaning, that I’m always in the mood for quiet, haunting, sprawling stories with family secrets, haunted halls, eerie estates, and women in peril.
Sanctuary checks all the boxes.
Dual timelines with two women leads.
Set in the 1930’s Sibilla and her husband, Giovanni are expecting their first child. They move out to an abandoned sawmill with the intention of getting it running again and restoring the villa to its original glory. Sibilla’s husband is quite boorish and misogynistic. This feels like your classic, “Yellow Wallpaper”, “Rebecca” kind of Gothic with a Downton Abbey-style dynamic between Sibilla and her new live-in housekeeper.
“He should have said all of that to Giovanni, because I was no good at remembering those kinds of things. A mind like a sieve, he always told me.”
The other timeline is a look back to the Renaissance, the 1600’s. The sawmill is occupied by Maddalena, a strong, capable woman who is supported by a dutiful, faithful husband who adores her and encourages his wife to be the woman she is–an herbalist (communicates with plants) practices alchemy, cartomancy, and herbalism. The townspeople think she’s a witch, blasphemous against their god…a ‘Strega’.
In both timelines, there are sabotaging acts against the villa and the sawmill in an attempt to chase them off the lands, the only real difference is in how each family handles the chaos and violence.
I enjoyed both narratives and equally looked forward to the events as they were unfolding. I especially loved the contrast between the two women and the way they are treated by their husbands.
Final Recommendation: Fans of Gothic storytelling looking for a unique setting, historical fiction elements, and a bit of mystery will enjoy this book. I especially recommend reading it during the Fall/Winter season for peak Gothic vibes.
Comps: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell, The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase, The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
April 19, 2025
In this dark, suspenseful horror novel, that wraps itself around you like a cold, wet wool stoll, the question is whether the land is cursed or are the people who try to live there. More succinctly, are two women, more than 335 years apart, cursed or are their own actions the reason for their downfall? One woman, a strong matriarch, the other, a weak pregnant woman.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my opinions of this novel. Thank you to the author, publisher and Goodreads for this opportunity.
1596 ~ Madalena and Florindo Caparalia along with their five children move into their new villa, complete with a grain mill on site. Maddalena is a very strong, willful woman who is adored by her husband. While Florindo is deeply devoted to his wife he also knows who the true head of the household is, a stance that is very unconventional for the misogynistic thinking of the time. Not only is Maddalena running the household, helping her husband with the accounting, she is also a qualified herbalist, which is still viewed as the devil's work. The herbalism is well researched and accurate, which is so important and appreciated by this modern day herbalist. It is Maddalena's open willingness to offer her help to a guest during an event hosted by Florindo and herself that brands her as a witch by her new community. Additionally, Maddalena's dealings with local workers and household staff leads to trouble. The couple become further ostracized when bad weather, flooding and a dam break occur. All of these events are, of course, blamed on Maddalena. When several tragedies befall the Caparalia family it all pushes Maddalena to draw on all her grief and anger to curse the land, villa and mill. Through the strength of Maddalena's rage a dark figure is created.
1933 ~ Giovanni and Sibilla Fenoglio have come into money, and without consulting his wife, Giovanni buys the ancient villa, mill and surrounding property. His dream is to have a fresh start in the country, get the mill running and raise a family. As it is Sibilla is four months pregnant when they arrive. Sibilla is extremely meek, flighty and has zero self-esteem. Most, if not all, of Sibilla's lack of self-worth is due to the brutish manner Giovanni treats her. Sibilla is the exact opposite of Maddalena. It is not long after moving into the villa that Sibilla starts hearing and seeing things that no one else notices. She grows more and more paranoid of everyone around her. Sibilla starts seeing a dark figure inside and outside the villa. The Fenoglio's begin having their own difficulties with the mill and constant rain. As the months tick by Sibilla's grasp on reality grows weaker and weaker until the day she delivers a healthy baby boy at which point she is hopelessly lost to her paranoia and delusions.
What will happen to the next family that purchases the property?
I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my opinions of this novel. Thank you to the author, publisher and Goodreads for this opportunity.
1596 ~ Madalena and Florindo Caparalia along with their five children move into their new villa, complete with a grain mill on site. Maddalena is a very strong, willful woman who is adored by her husband. While Florindo is deeply devoted to his wife he also knows who the true head of the household is, a stance that is very unconventional for the misogynistic thinking of the time. Not only is Maddalena running the household, helping her husband with the accounting, she is also a qualified herbalist, which is still viewed as the devil's work. The herbalism is well researched and accurate, which is so important and appreciated by this modern day herbalist. It is Maddalena's open willingness to offer her help to a guest during an event hosted by Florindo and herself that brands her as a witch by her new community. Additionally, Maddalena's dealings with local workers and household staff leads to trouble. The couple become further ostracized when bad weather, flooding and a dam break occur. All of these events are, of course, blamed on Maddalena. When several tragedies befall the Caparalia family it all pushes Maddalena to draw on all her grief and anger to curse the land, villa and mill. Through the strength of Maddalena's rage a dark figure is created.
1933 ~ Giovanni and Sibilla Fenoglio have come into money, and without consulting his wife, Giovanni buys the ancient villa, mill and surrounding property. His dream is to have a fresh start in the country, get the mill running and raise a family. As it is Sibilla is four months pregnant when they arrive. Sibilla is extremely meek, flighty and has zero self-esteem. Most, if not all, of Sibilla's lack of self-worth is due to the brutish manner Giovanni treats her. Sibilla is the exact opposite of Maddalena. It is not long after moving into the villa that Sibilla starts hearing and seeing things that no one else notices. She grows more and more paranoid of everyone around her. Sibilla starts seeing a dark figure inside and outside the villa. The Fenoglio's begin having their own difficulties with the mill and constant rain. As the months tick by Sibilla's grasp on reality grows weaker and weaker until the day she delivers a healthy baby boy at which point she is hopelessly lost to her paranoia and delusions.
What will happen to the next family that purchases the property?
April 21, 2024
Well that was quite a dark ending!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2024
It’s 1596 and Madelena is raising her five children alongside her husband in the Mill they own. She communicates with plants and is known around town for her tonics and tinctures. Everything is perfect until violent, strange acts of destruction begin to occur.
1933, Sibilla Fenoglio and her domineering husband are pregnant with their first child and just moved to the derelict Mill house that has not been occupied since the late 1500s. When they first arrive, Sibilla is taken with the space—although in need of desperate repairs, she finds it exquisite. Maybe though, it is all too good to be true because soon, Sibilla begins to see and hear strange things.
I appreciated the dual timelines; I equally enjoyed both of the main characters and was eager to see both unfold. It’s everything that you want in gothic horror really: a broken down mill, dark woods surrounding the property, witchcraft and curses, a couple heroines in distress, and an intensely evocative story line. If you love gothic literature with a twist of historical fiction, I would recommend giving this one a read.
1933, Sibilla Fenoglio and her domineering husband are pregnant with their first child and just moved to the derelict Mill house that has not been occupied since the late 1500s. When they first arrive, Sibilla is taken with the space—although in need of desperate repairs, she finds it exquisite. Maybe though, it is all too good to be true because soon, Sibilla begins to see and hear strange things.
I appreciated the dual timelines; I equally enjoyed both of the main characters and was eager to see both unfold. It’s everything that you want in gothic horror really: a broken down mill, dark woods surrounding the property, witchcraft and curses, a couple heroines in distress, and an intensely evocative story line. If you love gothic literature with a twist of historical fiction, I would recommend giving this one a read.
May 21, 2024
I enjoyed this one! It is set in 1596 and 1933 and follows two drastically different women living on the same land and in the same house. I will say while the woman from 1596’s perspective is important, it definitely drags. I would have honestly rather read a tl;dr version and skipped all her parts. In 1933, we are following Sibilla who is an absolute doormat of a wife and person, but I felt like her story would be worth it by the end and I was right. Motherhood plays a big role in both perspectives and the author uses that theme in the most uncomfortable and dark ways. This is definitely a dark read. I love when there doesn’t seem to be an Aesop’s Fable vibe where there is some grander meaning. This is just straight depressing vibes. Bad people doing bad things and everyone past and present paying the price.
May 29, 2024
I’m a fan of a good horror story and this one was fantastic, a slow burn, gothic vibes, dual timelines, creepy, suspenseful and well developed characters. It ended too soon, I really enjoyed it.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 by Valentina Cano Repetto released April 16, 2024.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 by Valentina Cano Repetto released April 16, 2024.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
July 17, 2025
Starts off ominous and then the journey forward is slow and creepy, going between a family in the 1500’s and a family in the 1900’s in an old villa in Italy. They are just living their lives whilst dealing with strange occurrences and mysteries.. until a very satisfying ending. I have a pit in my stomach and I am disturbed.
April 16, 2024
Thank you to the author, CamCat Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
January 8, 2025
You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat
Thank you to Henry Roi PR for this book in conjunction with a tour.
Actual rating of 4.5
Sibila wants nothing more than to make a life with her husband at the rundown mill and accompanying house that they've purchased. Especially with a baby on the way. But there's something strange about the property, and Sibila begins to wonder if there might be something more to the tragedy that befell the previous owners. The house has been empty since the renaissance, but Sibilia is hearing and seeing flashes of the previous occupants' lives; repairs are undone; and Sibila can't help but feel that her husband is hiding something. As the activity ramps up, and her husband becomes even more secretive, Sibila begins to realise that the lives of her and her unborn child are in danger.
Historical Fiction is a genre that I tend to try and avoid as the books I have read, I found them to be very, very slow in the pacing department and almost a little boring. Sometimes though, I can't help myself, and I discovered last year that if a story is Historical Horror, I tend to actually enjoy it. So, when I saw this book come up for a tour through Henry Roi PR I jumped at the chance to sign up. I'm so glad that I did, too.
This story is told through alternating timelines. The first is from the POV of Maddalena in 1596 and the other is from the POV of Sibilla in 1933. Having such a giant gap between the years that the stories were being told, added something a bit extra for me. I can't even really describe what, I think it was the fact that the world was so different, yet somethings were still the same. I normally enjoy one timeline or POV more when reading a book that has multiple, but in this one, from memory, I enjoyed both timelines and POVs equally. I feel like I connected more with Maddalena than Sibilla, but that was just a personality preference I believe. And thinking of the mill in Sibilla's time, compared to Maddalena's time, it just felt so empty and isolated. I'm not sure why, but it worked SO well for the story. Repetto did a fantastic job at being able to really create a strong and oppressive atmosphere across both timelines that were so different to each other. Where Maddalena's story was suffocating and dark and fraught with so much outside suspicion and prejudice, Sibilla's felt suffocating, isolated, lonely and trapped.
While Maddalena and Sibilla were both living in the same house and experiencing strange and terrifying things, they couldn't have been more different from each other. Maddalena was strong, powerful, nurturing, caring and blunt as anything; while Sibilla was submissive, meek, quiet, and just sticking her head in the sand about a lot of things. While I much preferred Maddalena's character, I could relate to Sibilla. Being kept in the dark about the truth of things, trying to see the good in someone you love, hoping against all hope that they're being honest with you and actually trying. I know how that feels. I also know how it feels when you realise that they haven't changed at all and the disappointment of that feels like it crushes your soul and steals your breath. Maddalena is the person that I wish I was a couple of years ago, but Sibilla is more like the person that I actually was. So yes. I much prefer the fiery, outspoken character of Maddalena who loved ferociously and cared deeply but didn't take anything laying down. She was unapologetically herself, even in a place and a time where her beliefs and practices were frowned upon and seen as the devil's work. She didn't allow that to stop her from helping people that needed it.
The creep factor was real. It was a slow build of ice-cold fingers trailing ever so slightly up your spine; of deepening shadows in the corner of a dark room; of footsteps and voices in the house, when you know that you're all alone. This was a sure-fire slow burn horror, but that dread, and creep factor did arrive, and it just slowly built and built and built until it felt like the tension was becoming too much. Throw in the fact that Sibilla became and unreliable narrator for me, and that just topped it all off. I wasn't expecting a happy ending for this book because, let's face it, it's a horror novel. And we kinda see how one timeline ends, right at the beginning of the book. But the bleak hopelessness that I was left with was next level. It's not often that I leave a horror book with that feeling, it takes a lot, and it takes an author who knows what they're doing. Think the feeling you got when you first watched the adaptation of The Mist. You know? The movie? Yeah. That. Possibly not on that kinda scale, but just that emotion in general.
All in all, this was a good read. It was a slow burn horror story that focused on two completely separate and different women who were both experiencing terrifying things in a place that should have been safe. I loved the juxtaposition between the lifestyles of the different timelines and the haunting and traumatic experiences both women had. I definitely love a good, haunted property story, and this one delivered. While I'm okay with a slow burn, this one did feel like it took me a while to get through, even though I was enjoying the story a lot. If slow burn horror is your jam, give this one a go!
Thank you to Henry Roi PR for this book in conjunction with a tour.
Actual rating of 4.5
Sibila wants nothing more than to make a life with her husband at the rundown mill and accompanying house that they've purchased. Especially with a baby on the way. But there's something strange about the property, and Sibila begins to wonder if there might be something more to the tragedy that befell the previous owners. The house has been empty since the renaissance, but Sibilia is hearing and seeing flashes of the previous occupants' lives; repairs are undone; and Sibila can't help but feel that her husband is hiding something. As the activity ramps up, and her husband becomes even more secretive, Sibila begins to realise that the lives of her and her unborn child are in danger.
Historical Fiction is a genre that I tend to try and avoid as the books I have read, I found them to be very, very slow in the pacing department and almost a little boring. Sometimes though, I can't help myself, and I discovered last year that if a story is Historical Horror, I tend to actually enjoy it. So, when I saw this book come up for a tour through Henry Roi PR I jumped at the chance to sign up. I'm so glad that I did, too.
This story is told through alternating timelines. The first is from the POV of Maddalena in 1596 and the other is from the POV of Sibilla in 1933. Having such a giant gap between the years that the stories were being told, added something a bit extra for me. I can't even really describe what, I think it was the fact that the world was so different, yet somethings were still the same. I normally enjoy one timeline or POV more when reading a book that has multiple, but in this one, from memory, I enjoyed both timelines and POVs equally. I feel like I connected more with Maddalena than Sibilla, but that was just a personality preference I believe. And thinking of the mill in Sibilla's time, compared to Maddalena's time, it just felt so empty and isolated. I'm not sure why, but it worked SO well for the story. Repetto did a fantastic job at being able to really create a strong and oppressive atmosphere across both timelines that were so different to each other. Where Maddalena's story was suffocating and dark and fraught with so much outside suspicion and prejudice, Sibilla's felt suffocating, isolated, lonely and trapped.
While Maddalena and Sibilla were both living in the same house and experiencing strange and terrifying things, they couldn't have been more different from each other. Maddalena was strong, powerful, nurturing, caring and blunt as anything; while Sibilla was submissive, meek, quiet, and just sticking her head in the sand about a lot of things. While I much preferred Maddalena's character, I could relate to Sibilla. Being kept in the dark about the truth of things, trying to see the good in someone you love, hoping against all hope that they're being honest with you and actually trying. I know how that feels. I also know how it feels when you realise that they haven't changed at all and the disappointment of that feels like it crushes your soul and steals your breath. Maddalena is the person that I wish I was a couple of years ago, but Sibilla is more like the person that I actually was. So yes. I much prefer the fiery, outspoken character of Maddalena who loved ferociously and cared deeply but didn't take anything laying down. She was unapologetically herself, even in a place and a time where her beliefs and practices were frowned upon and seen as the devil's work. She didn't allow that to stop her from helping people that needed it.
The creep factor was real. It was a slow build of ice-cold fingers trailing ever so slightly up your spine; of deepening shadows in the corner of a dark room; of footsteps and voices in the house, when you know that you're all alone. This was a sure-fire slow burn horror, but that dread, and creep factor did arrive, and it just slowly built and built and built until it felt like the tension was becoming too much. Throw in the fact that Sibilla became and unreliable narrator for me, and that just topped it all off. I wasn't expecting a happy ending for this book because, let's face it, it's a horror novel. And we kinda see how one timeline ends, right at the beginning of the book. But the bleak hopelessness that I was left with was next level. It's not often that I leave a horror book with that feeling, it takes a lot, and it takes an author who knows what they're doing. Think the feeling you got when you first watched the adaptation of The Mist. You know? The movie? Yeah. That. Possibly not on that kinda scale, but just that emotion in general.
All in all, this was a good read. It was a slow burn horror story that focused on two completely separate and different women who were both experiencing terrifying things in a place that should have been safe. I loved the juxtaposition between the lifestyles of the different timelines and the haunting and traumatic experiences both women had. I definitely love a good, haunted property story, and this one delivered. While I'm okay with a slow burn, this one did feel like it took me a while to get through, even though I was enjoying the story a lot. If slow burn horror is your jam, give this one a go!
January 25, 2024
This was a wonderful exciting read! I thought i had the book figured out in the first chapter but the twists and turns left me wanting more when it finished. It had a perfect ending, engaging writing. And subtle nuances that left me tingling, and feeling like i was being watched.
I loved this book and will most likely read it again and again
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved this book and will most likely read it again and again
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 16, 2024
Sanctuary by Valentina Cano Repetto
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978074430...
Release Date: April 16th, 2024
General Genre: Horror-General
Sub-Genre/Themes: Estate/villa, Italy, dual timelines, marriage, pregnancy, sawmill, historical fiction, unreliable narrator, herbalism/witch/Strega, curses, sabotage, maidservants, wealth, classism, socialites, gaslighting
Writing Style: Gothic, multiple POV, character-driven, intricately plotted, compelling
What You Need to Know: My first time requesting and reviewing on Edelweiss. I was provided a digital copy from the publisher, CamCat
I think it’s worth noting that the author lived in Miami, FL for 20+ years and then purchased a secluded Victorian-era mill in Italy and has been residing there, restoring it. You can follow along HERE
My Reading Experience: Since October, I have been in my “Gothic Era”. Meaning, that I’m always in the mood for quiet, haunting, sprawling stories with family secrets, haunted halls, eerie estates, and women in peril.
Sanctuary checks all the boxes.
Dual timelines with two women leads.
Set in the 1930’s Sibilla and her husband, Giovanni are expecting their first child. They move out to an abandoned sawmill with the intention of getting it running again and restoring the villa to its original glory. Sibilla’s husband is quite boorish and misogynistic. This feels like your classic, “Yellow Wallpaper”, “Rebecca” kind of Gothic with a Downton Abbey-style dynamic between Sibilla and her new live-in housekeeper.
“He should have said all of that to Giovanni, because I was no good at remembering those kinds of things. A mind like a sieve, he always told me.”
The other timeline is a look back to the Renaissance, the 1600’s. The sawmill is occupied by Maddalena, a strong, capable woman who is supported by a dutiful, faithful husband who adores her and encourages his wife to be the woman she is–an herbalist (communicates with plants) practices alchemy, cartomancy, and herbalism. The townspeople think she’s a witch, blasphemous against their god…a ‘Strega’.
In both timelines, there are sabotaging acts against the villa and the sawmill in an attempt to chase them off the lands, the only real difference is in how each family handles the chaos and violence.
I enjoyed both narratives and equally looked forward to the events as they were unfolding. I especially loved the contrast between the two women and the way they are treated by their husbands.
Final Recommendation: Fans of Gothic storytelling looking for a unique setting, historical fiction elements, and a bit of mystery will enjoy this book. I especially recommend reading it during the Fall/Winter season for peak Gothic vibes.
Comps: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell, The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase, The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978074430...
Release Date: April 16th, 2024
General Genre: Horror-General
Sub-Genre/Themes: Estate/villa, Italy, dual timelines, marriage, pregnancy, sawmill, historical fiction, unreliable narrator, herbalism/witch/Strega, curses, sabotage, maidservants, wealth, classism, socialites, gaslighting
Writing Style: Gothic, multiple POV, character-driven, intricately plotted, compelling
What You Need to Know: My first time requesting and reviewing on Edelweiss. I was provided a digital copy from the publisher, CamCat
I think it’s worth noting that the author lived in Miami, FL for 20+ years and then purchased a secluded Victorian-era mill in Italy and has been residing there, restoring it. You can follow along HERE
My Reading Experience: Since October, I have been in my “Gothic Era”. Meaning, that I’m always in the mood for quiet, haunting, sprawling stories with family secrets, haunted halls, eerie estates, and women in peril.
Sanctuary checks all the boxes.
Dual timelines with two women leads.
Set in the 1930’s Sibilla and her husband, Giovanni are expecting their first child. They move out to an abandoned sawmill with the intention of getting it running again and restoring the villa to its original glory. Sibilla’s husband is quite boorish and misogynistic. This feels like your classic, “Yellow Wallpaper”, “Rebecca” kind of Gothic with a Downton Abbey-style dynamic between Sibilla and her new live-in housekeeper.
“He should have said all of that to Giovanni, because I was no good at remembering those kinds of things. A mind like a sieve, he always told me.”
The other timeline is a look back to the Renaissance, the 1600’s. The sawmill is occupied by Maddalena, a strong, capable woman who is supported by a dutiful, faithful husband who adores her and encourages his wife to be the woman she is–an herbalist (communicates with plants) practices alchemy, cartomancy, and herbalism. The townspeople think she’s a witch, blasphemous against their god…a ‘Strega’.
In both timelines, there are sabotaging acts against the villa and the sawmill in an attempt to chase them off the lands, the only real difference is in how each family handles the chaos and violence.
I enjoyed both narratives and equally looked forward to the events as they were unfolding. I especially loved the contrast between the two women and the way they are treated by their husbands.
Final Recommendation: Fans of Gothic storytelling looking for a unique setting, historical fiction elements, and a bit of mystery will enjoy this book. I especially recommend reading it during the Fall/Winter season for peak Gothic vibes.
Comps: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell, The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase, The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
March 4, 2024
Valentina Cano Repetto's 'Sanctuary' is a Gothic horror novel full of history, mystery, and intriguing characters. The two female main characters, the dual timelines, and the setting make this an original entry into the genre, though the twists were a bit forced and predictable - that said, they were entertaining, sometimes subtle, always riveting. At times it was a bit of a slow burn, but as we reach the ending things go rather fast, almost like dominoes falling one after the other. Fans of the gnere won't be disappointed: so don't expect complex adventures or action-centred shenanigans; go for intrigue, heavy emotions, and lots of dialogue.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 29, 2025
was good in the first half, then started getting weirdly drawn out. also, all of the kids were very annoying
January 13, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. Listen. It was good, okay? Nice voices, interesting setting, good historicity. But I was very much not the target audience. I need a little bit of hope.
March 24, 2024
Sanctuary is a gothic horror set in the Italian countryside. It follows the stories of two women living on the same property but in different centuries (Maddalena in 1596 and Sibilla in 1933). Each woman is facing her own horrors after moving to the sprawling villa so their husbands could renovate and run the sawmill on the property.
My favorite thing about this book was the imagery. I could picture the everything about the setting in my mind. Valentina Cano Repetto paints such a vivid picture and it really made the story come alive for me. The build was slower in the beginning as the foundation was laid for the women’s stories but soon enough, I found myself completely wrapped up and invested in the plot. I flew through the second half of the book. There were so many twists and turns and ending was perfection.
I have not read a lot of gothic horror but this book convinced me that I should read the genre more often! I feel like anyone who loves this genre would really enjoy this book.
Thank you to the author, Henry Roi PR and Black Tide Book Tours for an advanced copy of this book.
My favorite thing about this book was the imagery. I could picture the everything about the setting in my mind. Valentina Cano Repetto paints such a vivid picture and it really made the story come alive for me. The build was slower in the beginning as the foundation was laid for the women’s stories but soon enough, I found myself completely wrapped up and invested in the plot. I flew through the second half of the book. There were so many twists and turns and ending was perfection.
I have not read a lot of gothic horror but this book convinced me that I should read the genre more often! I feel like anyone who loves this genre would really enjoy this book.
Thank you to the author, Henry Roi PR and Black Tide Book Tours for an advanced copy of this book.
April 14, 2024
In 1933 Sibilla and her engineer husband, who are expecting their first child, move to an abandoned villa with a mill in the Italian countryside. But when they begin renovating Sibilla starts hearing strange voices... In 1596 the mill is occupied by Maddalena and her family, who recently moved there from Genova. Being a folk medicine practitioner Maddalena is often sought after for her ability to cure ailments. But this is not the city, where alchemy and herbalism are popular, and soon rumours start spreading that Maddalena is a strega...
Picture an Italian villa painted with frescoes of forests, a creepy mill, dark woodlands, herbalism and at the center two women across time whose lives are very different yet linked in many ways. Together with curses and ghastly apparitions this makes for a haunting, tense and emotional read - exactly what I'm looking for in gothic horor. The alternating POV chapters that often end on a cliffhanger help even more to keep the tension high.
But the story isn't just well-crafted atmosphere and vivid imagery. Repetto uses the gothic elements to explore topics such as grief, revenge, our relationship with the land, classism, domestic abuse, misogyny and witch persecution - all portrayed in a thoughtful way that often made me very sad or angry.
What I love most is how multi-faceted the women are allowed to be: Sibilla isn't only portrayed as timid and anxious because of her abusive husband, just as Maddalena isn't reduced to an assertive woman with a kind, supportive husband. They also aren't flawless, and much could be said about some of their actions, especially Maddalena's. I enjoyed comparing and contrasting the two characters as the story progressed.
I wholeheartedly recommend Sanctuary to lovers of gothic horror, haunted houses, historical fiction, folk medicine and complex female protagonists!
My rating: 5⭐
Thank you to the author, to CamCat Books and to BookSirens for the free eARC.
Content warnings: ableist language, animal cruelty, animal death, blood & gore, cheating, childbirth, classism, consumption of alcohol, contagion, death of a child, grief, gun violence, intimate partner abuse, miscarriage (talking of), medical procedures, misogyny, murder, physical illness, physical injury, poisoning, pregnancy, sexism, suicide
Picture an Italian villa painted with frescoes of forests, a creepy mill, dark woodlands, herbalism and at the center two women across time whose lives are very different yet linked in many ways. Together with curses and ghastly apparitions this makes for a haunting, tense and emotional read - exactly what I'm looking for in gothic horor. The alternating POV chapters that often end on a cliffhanger help even more to keep the tension high.
But the story isn't just well-crafted atmosphere and vivid imagery. Repetto uses the gothic elements to explore topics such as grief, revenge, our relationship with the land, classism, domestic abuse, misogyny and witch persecution - all portrayed in a thoughtful way that often made me very sad or angry.
What I love most is how multi-faceted the women are allowed to be: Sibilla isn't only portrayed as timid and anxious because of her abusive husband, just as Maddalena isn't reduced to an assertive woman with a kind, supportive husband. They also aren't flawless, and much could be said about some of their actions, especially Maddalena's. I enjoyed comparing and contrasting the two characters as the story progressed.
I wholeheartedly recommend Sanctuary to lovers of gothic horror, haunted houses, historical fiction, folk medicine and complex female protagonists!
My rating: 5⭐
Thank you to the author, to CamCat Books and to BookSirens for the free eARC.
Content warnings: ableist language, animal cruelty, animal death, blood & gore, cheating, childbirth, classism, consumption of alcohol, contagion, death of a child, grief, gun violence, intimate partner abuse, miscarriage (talking of), medical procedures, misogyny, murder, physical illness, physical injury, poisoning, pregnancy, sexism, suicide
March 22, 2024
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'll start by saying that I wasn't a fan of the talking plants - I found it a bit hokey - but this book surprised me with how much I enjoyed it! I don't really read much Gothic horror, but the blurb intrigued me.
The two women are both compelling, and in similar situations despite their different personalities. Madelena's story was like a historic thriller with a dash of occult, and Sibilla's story was a classic bit of gas-lighting and descent into madness. The villa and mill are great settings that are eerie and oppressive, and I liked the hostility of the surrounding area and the intensity of nature.
The ending of both stories were intense and just raced towards their conclusions. This was a really compelling book that kept me reading, and the pacing was quick enough to keep the story moving but slowed down enough to flesh out the characters.
I enjoyed the supernatural dashes in the story, and the spiraling of each woman's life.
A dark and intense Gothic novel.
I'll start by saying that I wasn't a fan of the talking plants - I found it a bit hokey - but this book surprised me with how much I enjoyed it! I don't really read much Gothic horror, but the blurb intrigued me.
The two women are both compelling, and in similar situations despite their different personalities. Madelena's story was like a historic thriller with a dash of occult, and Sibilla's story was a classic bit of gas-lighting and descent into madness. The villa and mill are great settings that are eerie and oppressive, and I liked the hostility of the surrounding area and the intensity of nature.
The ending of both stories were intense and just raced towards their conclusions. This was a really compelling book that kept me reading, and the pacing was quick enough to keep the story moving but slowed down enough to flesh out the characters.
I enjoyed the supernatural dashes in the story, and the spiraling of each woman's life.
A dark and intense Gothic novel.
Read
June 3, 2024DNF @ 40% (ish)
I got bored of it. I didn’t connect with the characters, didn’t really care what was or would happen. The writing is great, but I felt the story was lacking, which then made the writing seem pretentious or haughty. I wish there was more of a hook, then maybe I would have kept on…
I got bored of it. I didn’t connect with the characters, didn’t really care what was or would happen. The writing is great, but I felt the story was lacking, which then made the writing seem pretentious or haughty. I wish there was more of a hook, then maybe I would have kept on…
May 14, 2024
3.5/5.. A very good start and development, but very weak ending. Couldn't make sense of the story really.
April 29, 2024
Solid 3. I do love a good gothic.
This was an ok gothic.
I'm usually not that guy, the literary analysis bore, but I find myself being that guy, here. I was left wondering what the author's intention was. What were they trying to get across? What was the point?
Spoilers ahead.
Back in the 1500s, a wealthy family purchased a villa and a mill in the countryside. They didn't know that the previous owner screwed over the tenant farmers who he had basically promised to sell the land to, as they had been working it for generations. But they couldn't pay as much as the wealthy city folks, so, that was that. Except it wasn't. Some of the aggrieved locals decided to make new owners' lives a misery. They wrought havoc, destroying the dam and causing devastating flooding, damaged the mill, antagonized the family and even brought dysentery to the villa in an attempt to kill the family's children.
The wealthy matriarch was really into herbology and stuff and the locals branded her a witch, even though she was just trying to help. Anyway, in the end, after a showdown with the angry locals, one of the kids is killed in a horrific semi-accident with a horse and a log. Mom lost it and turned family anihilator, as the family was now financially ruined, destitute and her so was dead. She used her knowledge of plants to poison the family stew. She also "cursed" the land and any who would try to live on it (including a vision she had of a pregnant lady).
Which brings us to the 1930s.
Abusive, adulterous intellectual-property theif and his pregnant wife move into the villa with the intention of restarting the mill and making lots of money. We don't know at the start that he's a cheat, just abusive. Turns out, this big invention that he patented that made him a bunch of money, he stole from a subordinate. He thought he could get away with it. Nope. Lawyers and debt collectors were after him right away. He tried to hide it from his pregnant wife, but that was a bad idea.
Pregnant wife was slowly losing her mind. Can black mold make you crazy? Because the mold was mentioned a lot. (Edit: I looked it up. The scientific consensus is no, it just might make you feel like you have a bit of a cold.)
She lost two pregnancies. The second happened just after a
she discovered that her husband was cheating on her. She "took a fall" and sustained a head injury on top of losing the baby.
Anyway. She grows increasingly paranoid, hearing and seeing things. The mill is being sabatoged again, this time by the folks her husband screwed over. Her pregnancy is precarious. She thinks her maid is having an affair with her husband. He isn't, but that doesn't stop her from completing losing it. After a horrible home birth with assistance from the maid, she smothers the child, believing it to be a horse-monster.
The book ends, if I'm understanding it correctly, with a contractor coming in to prepare the property for new owners (the person who actually made the invention and his family). He got a really bad vibe from the house and decided to burn the piano (which belonged to the formerly pregnant wife).
So, yeah. I'm left wondering what the point was.
Was it a commentary on misogyny? On capitalism? On the dangers of superstition? Black mold? I don't know. It's weird, it read like a morality tale, but without the moral. And I, personally, didn't find it entertaining or engaging enough for it to work as a piece of piece of pure, fun, popcorn lit. It just felt like a bunch of unlikable, unethical people doing unlikable, unethical things and then dying unmourned, the word going on without them as though they were never even there.
Which is definitely a thing that some people are into, it just wasn't for me.
This was an ok gothic.
I'm usually not that guy, the literary analysis bore, but I find myself being that guy, here. I was left wondering what the author's intention was. What were they trying to get across? What was the point?
Spoilers ahead.
Back in the 1500s, a wealthy family purchased a villa and a mill in the countryside. They didn't know that the previous owner screwed over the tenant farmers who he had basically promised to sell the land to, as they had been working it for generations. But they couldn't pay as much as the wealthy city folks, so, that was that. Except it wasn't. Some of the aggrieved locals decided to make new owners' lives a misery. They wrought havoc, destroying the dam and causing devastating flooding, damaged the mill, antagonized the family and even brought dysentery to the villa in an attempt to kill the family's children.
The wealthy matriarch was really into herbology and stuff and the locals branded her a witch, even though she was just trying to help. Anyway, in the end, after a showdown with the angry locals, one of the kids is killed in a horrific semi-accident with a horse and a log. Mom lost it and turned family anihilator, as the family was now financially ruined, destitute and her so was dead. She used her knowledge of plants to poison the family stew. She also "cursed" the land and any who would try to live on it (including a vision she had of a pregnant lady).
Which brings us to the 1930s.
Abusive, adulterous intellectual-property theif and his pregnant wife move into the villa with the intention of restarting the mill and making lots of money. We don't know at the start that he's a cheat, just abusive. Turns out, this big invention that he patented that made him a bunch of money, he stole from a subordinate. He thought he could get away with it. Nope. Lawyers and debt collectors were after him right away. He tried to hide it from his pregnant wife, but that was a bad idea.
Pregnant wife was slowly losing her mind. Can black mold make you crazy? Because the mold was mentioned a lot. (Edit: I looked it up. The scientific consensus is no, it just might make you feel like you have a bit of a cold.)
She lost two pregnancies. The second happened just after a
she discovered that her husband was cheating on her. She "took a fall" and sustained a head injury on top of losing the baby.
Anyway. She grows increasingly paranoid, hearing and seeing things. The mill is being sabatoged again, this time by the folks her husband screwed over. Her pregnancy is precarious. She thinks her maid is having an affair with her husband. He isn't, but that doesn't stop her from completing losing it. After a horrible home birth with assistance from the maid, she smothers the child, believing it to be a horse-monster.
The book ends, if I'm understanding it correctly, with a contractor coming in to prepare the property for new owners (the person who actually made the invention and his family). He got a really bad vibe from the house and decided to burn the piano (which belonged to the formerly pregnant wife).
So, yeah. I'm left wondering what the point was.
Was it a commentary on misogyny? On capitalism? On the dangers of superstition? Black mold? I don't know. It's weird, it read like a morality tale, but without the moral. And I, personally, didn't find it entertaining or engaging enough for it to work as a piece of piece of pure, fun, popcorn lit. It just felt like a bunch of unlikable, unethical people doing unlikable, unethical things and then dying unmourned, the word going on without them as though they were never even there.
Which is definitely a thing that some people are into, it just wasn't for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2024
I received a copy of this for free, to review as part of a tour with Black Tide Book Tours.
Gothic stories are one of my favourite flavours, so I was quite looking forward to this. When I first started reading it, the writing struck me as dark but beautiful.
There are two narratives following two different protagonists - Maddalena in the late 1500s, and Sibilla in the 1930s. I was eager to find out more about both of these characters, and how their stories may be connected. I sensed something ominous, wondering if something unfortunate may occur in the lives of these characters, but that motivated me to keep reading.
Sometimes, I connect more with historical novels than with novels set in the present day, as I feel they provide me with a better escape. So this was a little like two stories in one, providing me with two escapes. I felt there were clever subtleties about the writing that created a chilling atmosphere for the reader, such as the description of particular sounds and scents. I got chills myself while I was reading.
If you like historical gothic horror, you may be interested in this book.
Thank you to Black Tide Book Tours, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
Gothic stories are one of my favourite flavours, so I was quite looking forward to this. When I first started reading it, the writing struck me as dark but beautiful.
There are two narratives following two different protagonists - Maddalena in the late 1500s, and Sibilla in the 1930s. I was eager to find out more about both of these characters, and how their stories may be connected. I sensed something ominous, wondering if something unfortunate may occur in the lives of these characters, but that motivated me to keep reading.
Sometimes, I connect more with historical novels than with novels set in the present day, as I feel they provide me with a better escape. So this was a little like two stories in one, providing me with two escapes. I felt there were clever subtleties about the writing that created a chilling atmosphere for the reader, such as the description of particular sounds and scents. I got chills myself while I was reading.
If you like historical gothic horror, you may be interested in this book.
Thank you to Black Tide Book Tours, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
December 17, 2024
A chilling tale of a cursed land and the two families that strive to survive there. Two timelines, one in the 1500s, the other in the 1930s running independently, but the past bleeds through into the present.
In the 1930s, an engineer and his wife bought an old mill with a large villa and the many lands surrounding them. The lands and structures have sat vacant for centuries. He and his wife are moving there to set up a new mill and a home. Neither the marriage nor the place is what it seems.
In the 1500s, a man and his family settled the same land, the same mill and the same Villa. They've moved there from the city where things are vastly different. While this marriage and the family are strong, other things are not as they seem, and the place is very different from the city they left behind.
While there is a supernatural element to the story, it's not the main factor. This is a story of love and grief, lies and blindness to those lies, greed and anger, small minds and revenge. Some are by choice, and some are survival. But all of it is nothing less than the actions and emotional responses of humans when facing the very things this story is about.
In the 1930s, an engineer and his wife bought an old mill with a large villa and the many lands surrounding them. The lands and structures have sat vacant for centuries. He and his wife are moving there to set up a new mill and a home. Neither the marriage nor the place is what it seems.
In the 1500s, a man and his family settled the same land, the same mill and the same Villa. They've moved there from the city where things are vastly different. While this marriage and the family are strong, other things are not as they seem, and the place is very different from the city they left behind.
While there is a supernatural element to the story, it's not the main factor. This is a story of love and grief, lies and blindness to those lies, greed and anger, small minds and revenge. Some are by choice, and some are survival. But all of it is nothing less than the actions and emotional responses of humans when facing the very things this story is about.
April 5, 2024
“You need to get out of here.”
“Girl, you need to leave.”
These are the unsettling words that come spilling out of the radio that you were just listening to music on. Is it a warning? If so, what does it mean?
This is just the beginning of the haunting things that keep happening in the villa Sibilla and her husband just moved into. Are the strange occurrences real or imagined? This book is so atmospheric and the writing makes it feel so real like you’re in the scenes with the characters. So many unsettling things that will make you feel so uneasy. I really liked how the chapters alternated between the past and the present. With each chapter it becomes more clear that this villa has been haunted and doomed since its first owners lived there back in the 1500’s. This is a very dark gothic book that is full of gloom and doom! I read it so fast because I was so intrigued and disturbed! It really had me questioning what was real and what was an illusion.
Thank you so much Valentina and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy!
“Girl, you need to leave.”
These are the unsettling words that come spilling out of the radio that you were just listening to music on. Is it a warning? If so, what does it mean?
This is just the beginning of the haunting things that keep happening in the villa Sibilla and her husband just moved into. Are the strange occurrences real or imagined? This book is so atmospheric and the writing makes it feel so real like you’re in the scenes with the characters. So many unsettling things that will make you feel so uneasy. I really liked how the chapters alternated between the past and the present. With each chapter it becomes more clear that this villa has been haunted and doomed since its first owners lived there back in the 1500’s. This is a very dark gothic book that is full of gloom and doom! I read it so fast because I was so intrigued and disturbed! It really had me questioning what was real and what was an illusion.
Thank you so much Valentina and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy!
March 19, 2024
Sanctuary by Valentina Cano Repetto |4/5|
*ARC Review*
Release Date: April 16, 2024
Summary: Sanctuary delves into the horror-filled journey of two women, separated by centuries, as they strive to start anew in the same location. In 1933, Sibilla dreams of a tranquil existence with her husband and unborn child in their new home. Meanwhile, in 1596, Maddalena and her family embark on an exciting new chapter in their freshly constructed villa. However, their aspirations for a fresh start soon spiral into darkness, endangering them both.
Review: I really enjoyed Sanctuary! It was a bit slow to start, but the writing is so wonderful that it doesn’t detract from the story. I loved discovering how everything connected and found myself unwilling to stop reading after about the half way point. The horror aspect was more subtle than what I was expecting, at least until the climax of both storylines, but some parts are truly chilling.
*ARC Review*
Release Date: April 16, 2024
Summary: Sanctuary delves into the horror-filled journey of two women, separated by centuries, as they strive to start anew in the same location. In 1933, Sibilla dreams of a tranquil existence with her husband and unborn child in their new home. Meanwhile, in 1596, Maddalena and her family embark on an exciting new chapter in their freshly constructed villa. However, their aspirations for a fresh start soon spiral into darkness, endangering them both.
Review: I really enjoyed Sanctuary! It was a bit slow to start, but the writing is so wonderful that it doesn’t detract from the story. I loved discovering how everything connected and found myself unwilling to stop reading after about the half way point. The horror aspect was more subtle than what I was expecting, at least until the climax of both storylines, but some parts are truly chilling.
March 22, 2024
4.5 stars A dark and rich gorhic horror nestled in the Italian countryside. The story is told from the dual perspectives of two wives during two different timelines at the location of the mill and homestead in Italy - Maddalena in the 1590s and Sibilla in the 1930s. Maddalena opens the story as she feeds her family on a stew steeped in deathly herbs, then we meet pregnant Sibilla as she arrives in her new crumbling but exquisite home. Immediately, there is such beauty but coldness, and she begins to hear voices and sounds . The work on the mill seems fated to fail with every new part sabbatoged and workmen injured. The key is in its history. Time has moved on, but the mill and the land have not forgotten. They ate haunted by the people and events of centuries before. This is a gripping and haunting read filled with tragedy and vengefulness. #sanctuary #valentinacanorepetto #camcatbooks #blacktidebooks #henryroipr
April 12, 2024
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This book is just what I needed to get out of a little reading slump that I was in. It is chilling, haunting, and atmospheric. The authors writing pulls the reader in, and the atmosphere feels so unsettling and creepy-in the best possible way! I enjoyed the alternating chapters, the characters, and the creepy gothic villa. The villa is haunted and eerie, strange things happen that leaves you questioning if it was real or all imagined. It is definitely a spine chilling read that is haunting, exciting, and disturbing. You know that feeling you get when you feel a presence may be watching you? Yup…this book totally gave me those vibes!😱 Make sure to leave the lights on while you read this haunting and disturbing book.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦An atmospheric, creepy, eerie setting
✦Writing that grips you in from the beginning
✦A book that leaves you feeling a bit anxious and creeped out
✦A chilling gothic horror story
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.25/5
This book is just what I needed to get out of a little reading slump that I was in. It is chilling, haunting, and atmospheric. The authors writing pulls the reader in, and the atmosphere feels so unsettling and creepy-in the best possible way! I enjoyed the alternating chapters, the characters, and the creepy gothic villa. The villa is haunted and eerie, strange things happen that leaves you questioning if it was real or all imagined. It is definitely a spine chilling read that is haunting, exciting, and disturbing. You know that feeling you get when you feel a presence may be watching you? Yup…this book totally gave me those vibes!😱 Make sure to leave the lights on while you read this haunting and disturbing book.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦An atmospheric, creepy, eerie setting
✦Writing that grips you in from the beginning
✦A book that leaves you feeling a bit anxious and creeped out
✦A chilling gothic horror story
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.25/5
Read
April 12, 2024The description of this beautiful villa and surrounding area had me thinking “What could be so horrific about this book?” Well was I in for a shock. This author used the past vs. the present to tell this tale of when someone wants the bad things done to become righted. The original family bought the villa without knowing how it became sold to them. Once moved in, the family began experiencing sabotage to the mill, sickness brought to the home and villagers abandoning the family. Fast forward to present time and another family has bought the villa and the land. Little did they know the past issues would come back to haunt them. This book had such eerie vibes. So many of the noises scribed in each scene almost seemed real. I swear sometimes, I could hear the whispering that the women could hear. This land filled with trauma is not willing to let go; for it constantly needs new victims.
May 7, 2025
In "Sanctuary," Valentina Cano Repetto weaves a chilling tale across two timelines in a haunted watermill. Present-day Sibilla Fenoglio faces increasingly terrifying supernatural occurrences while her husband grows more secretive. Meanwhile, in Renaissance Italy, the strong-willed Maddalena Caparalia—adored by her husband yet eventually persecuted for her herbal knowledge—occupies the same property with her family. The stark contrast between these women's experiences is compelling: Maddalena's initially celebrated independence becomes her downfall, while Sibilla's increasing isolation reveals the precarious nature of her marriage.
I received this book as a giveaway and would recommend it to gothic literature enthusiasts who appreciate atmospheric settings where past and present collide with disturbing consequences.
I received this book as a giveaway and would recommend it to gothic literature enthusiasts who appreciate atmospheric settings where past and present collide with disturbing consequences.
Read
May 17, 2024This! This is what "House Of Last Resort" wishes it was. This is "Rosemary's Baby" homage and no one can tell me otherwise.
I had so many thoughts about this before I even made it 5 pages in. There's two stories circling each other here, separated by decades, following two families: one where the husband is just the worst and one where the wife is kind of the worst but she grows on me by the end.
If you're a horror fan, you can probably guess the shape this story takes from a mile away, but there was enough in here that kept me guessing and even a surprise or two. The most interesting part for me, though, is the nuanced overall message regarding small-scale colonialism land ownership. I think it shows exceptional compassion via tragedy.
8/10
I had so many thoughts about this before I even made it 5 pages in. There's two stories circling each other here, separated by decades, following two families: one where the husband is just the worst and one where the wife is kind of the worst but she grows on me by the end.
If you're a horror fan, you can probably guess the shape this story takes from a mile away, but there was enough in here that kept me guessing and even a surprise or two. The most interesting part for me, though, is the nuanced overall message regarding small-scale colonialism land ownership. I think it shows exceptional compassion via tragedy.
8/10
March 24, 2024
I just loved everything about this book!
The foreboding atmosphere surrounding what should have been a safe and welcoming family home, the malevolence from the locals and the anguish felt by the mothers in both timelines as they desperately try to protect their children. It all makes for an unsettling and gripping tale.
I really felt for some of the characters and tool a real dislike to others - the writing was so good, I found myself getting quite upset with certain turns of events!
I can't recommend this book enough, but be prepared to be put through the mill, so to speak!
Thanks to the author, CamCat Books and Black Tide Book Tours for the eARC of this book.
The foreboding atmosphere surrounding what should have been a safe and welcoming family home, the malevolence from the locals and the anguish felt by the mothers in both timelines as they desperately try to protect their children. It all makes for an unsettling and gripping tale.
I really felt for some of the characters and tool a real dislike to others - the writing was so good, I found myself getting quite upset with certain turns of events!
I can't recommend this book enough, but be prepared to be put through the mill, so to speak!
Thanks to the author, CamCat Books and Black Tide Book Tours for the eARC of this book.
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